THE SONNETTHE SONNET

What is an English What is an English sonnet?sonnet?

This type of sonnet was introduced in England in the 16th century.

Shakespeare wrote 154 of them!

It’s a short poem with fourteen lines Of the fourteen lines, the first twelve give the main Of the fourteen lines, the first twelve give the main idea and details.idea and details.The final two, a rhyming couplet, are a summarizing The final two, a rhyming couplet, are a summarizing statement.statement.

and a very strict rhyme scheme.

What else is a What e lse is a sonnet?sonnet?

Each line is written in Each line is written in iambic iambic pentameterpentameter. This means you have . This means you have 10 syllables total – every other one 10 syllables total – every other one is stressed. is stressed.

In poetry, rhyme scheme is indicated In poetry, rhyme scheme is indicated by letters. The rhyme scheme of an by letters. The rhyme scheme of an Elizabethan/Shakespearean sonnet is Elizabethan/Shakespearean sonnet is as follows: abab cdcd efef ggas follows: abab cdcd efef gg

Shakespearean Sonnet 18Shakespearean Sonnet 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer’s Shall I compare thee to a summer’s dayday?? Thou art more lovely and more Thou art more lovely and more temperatetemperate.. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of Rough winds do shake the darling buds of MayMay.. And summer’s lease hath all too short a And summer’s lease hath all too short a datedate.. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shinesshines.. And often is his gold complexion dimmed.And often is his gold complexion dimmed. And every fair from fair sometimes And every fair from fair sometimes declinesdeclines.. By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed:By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed: But thy eternal summer shall not But thy eternal summer shall not fadefade.. Nor lose possession of that fair thou Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’stow’st:: Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shadeshade When in eternal lines to time thou When in eternal lines to time thou grow’stgrow’st.. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see.So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see. So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

A TOAST TO TOASTA TOAST TO TOAST Of all the snacks that beckon in the nightOf al l the snacks that beckon in the night When tummies growl and gnawing hunger calls,When tummies growl and gnawing hunger calls, But one can satisfy my famished plightBut one can satisfy my famished plight And summons me to stumble through the halls.And summons me to stumble through the halls.

Oh piece of bread, so humble in your sl iceOh piece of bread, so humble in your sl ice What magic turns your skin from white to brown?What magic turns your skin from white to brown? What arrogant aromas do enticeWhat arrogant aromas do entice When toaster pops and butter coats you down!When toaster pops and butter coats you down!

With cinnamon and sugar or with jamWith cinnamon and sugar or with jam I dress you in the ornaments of sweetI dress you in the ornaments of sweet More sated, I , than proverb’s happy clamMore sated, I , than proverb’s happy clam When crispy, hot and warm my l ips you meet.When crispy, hot and warm my l ips you meet.

Of every night-time treat you are the mostOf every night-time treat you are the most I honor you, great food, whose name is I honor you, great food, whose name is

toast.toast.http://http://burton.byu.edu/Sonnets/Toast.htmburton.byu.edu/Sonnets/Toast.htm